Widow, 44, shot dead while sleeping

CEBU, Philippines — A 44-year-old widow who was sleeping inside her home in Alaska, Barangay Mambaling was shot dead by an unidentified man yesterday dawn.

Mambaling police identified the victim as Lavinia Bernalez Manilag.

Chief Insp. Randy Caballes, Mambaling Police Station chief, told THE FREEMAN that the victim's daughter was awakened by the bust of gunfire and saw the gunman herself.

After shooting the victim at close range, the gunman immediately left their house and fled.

Manilag was rushed to the hospital by her family and neighbors but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Investigators gathered seven empty shells and one slug of calibre .45 from the crime scene.

The victim’s daughter told police that the gunman is 5’7” in height, has medium build and was wearing a short pants and sweat shirt with a hood.

"Ingun siya nakamay-ong daw siya. Kung pakit-on kuno siya og balik basin matudlo gyud niya kinsa ang suspek," he said.

The daughter suspected that their main door was not locked because there was no sign of forced entry.

The police are now looking into drugs as possible motive.

Caballes revealed to THE FREEMAN that Manilag was arrested for possession of illegal drugs in October last year while her live-in partner, identified as Renato P. Rosales alyas Berus, was also arrested by the operatives of Mambaling police in a buy-bust operation on Aug. 3 this year.

"According sa family, wala silay nahibaw-an  nga nakaaway ani nga silingan.  Basin ug naa ni silay nakontra nga mga drug personality," Caballes said. (FREEMAN)